Encodings File Structure

The following table lists the keyword and value pairs in the encodings
file.

Table 2-1 Keyword and Value Pairs

keyword1; keyword2

The second keyword is ended by the end of the line

keyword3=
three; keyword4;

The value of keyword3 is “three”; keyword4 is ended by the
semicolon before the end of the line

keyword5 = five

This line does not
contain a single keyword/value pair, because the = has a blank before it;
this line represents a common error in attempting to specify the keyword “keyword5=
“

Note that if the keyword/value pair sits alone on a line, no
terminating semicolon is needed (but is always allowed).

Comments can be placed on any line in the encodings file.
Comments can appear anywhere a keyword can start. Comments begin with a
* and continue through the end of the line. It is not
possible to begin a comment in the middle of a keyword or a
value, nor is it possible to have any keywords following a comment
on the same line. On lines that do not contain keywords (i.e.,
required combination, combination constraint, and user accreditation range sensitivity label lines), comments can
appear only at the beginning of the line, or following white space on
the line.

The encodings are comprised of a version specification and seven mandatory sections:
classifications, information labels, sensitivity labels, clearances, channels, printer banners, and accreditation range which
must appear in this order. Following these sections can be an optional
name information labels section. A number of these sections in turn have
subsections. The version specification is the single keyword VERSION=, followed by a
character string that identifies this particular version of encodings. An example is:

VERSION= DISTRIBUTED DEMO VERSION

The sections mentioned above each begin with a keyword that ends with
a colon, as follows:

Each section ends when a keyword that starts the next section is
found, or at the end of the file.

The INFORMATION LABELS:, SENSITIVITY LABELS:, CLEARANCES:, CHANNELS:, and PRINTER BANNERS: sections all contain
a mandatory subsection started with the keyword WORDS:. Furthermore, the INFORMATION LABELS:,
SENSITIVITY LABELS:, and CLEARANCES: sections also have two other mandatory subsections started with
the keywords REQUIRED COMBINATIONS: and COMBINATION CONSTRAINTS: